Dengue cases are increasing globally. US health officials warn doctors to watch out for the disease.
Climate change has led to a global increase in mosquito-carried viruses. Within six months, the Americas had surpassed previous records for dengue infections.
Puerto Rico declared a public health emergency in March, while the World Health Organization declared one in December.
Dengue cases in the US tripled this year compared to the previous year, mostly among tourists. Local mosquitoes remain a threat despite no current outbreak.
The CDC issued a health advisory urging doctors to be vigilant about symptoms, ask about travel history, and test for dengue if needed.
According to specialists, the virus that causes dengue is dispersed by a particular kind of warm-weather mosquito that is becoming more widespread due to climate change.
While many infected individuals do not become ill, others do have fever, headaches, and flu-like symptoms. Severe instances may result in fatalities, significant bleeding, and shock.
Infections that recur can be very harmful.
Dengue virus comes in four varieties: 1, 2, 3, and 4. The body produces antibodies against that sort of infection throughout the rest of its life. These antibodies might not be able to neutralize a different form of infection, which might allow the virus to infect and multiply inside immune cells.
Puerto Rico, which has been exposed to type 1 for the past 20 years, is concerned about that. The island recorded its first dengue fatality of the year last month.
There isn't a commonly accessible medication to treat dengue fever.
In 2021, US regulators advised children ages 9 to 16 who had previously contracted dengue and resided in dengue-endemic areas to get the Sanofi vaccine.
Restrictions and issues hindered widespread use of the vaccine. Only 140 kids in Puerto Rico have gotten vaccinated since 2022. Sanofi Pasteur will stop making the vaccine, according to the CDC.
Currently, there is no authorization for a separate vaccine produced by Takeda, a pharmaceutical firm located in Tokyo, in the United States. There are others under development.
80+ nations reported 6.6 million global illnesses last year. This year, in just four months, 7.9 million illnesses and 4,000 deaths were reported. The situation in Brazil and Peru has been dire.
The number of cases in the US reached 3,000 last year, the most in ten years. The majority were spread locally by local mosquitoes; Puerto Rico had the most cases (around 180), followed by the combined states of Florida, Texas, and California.
There have been approximately 1,500 domestically acquired cases registered in the United States thus far this year, with Puerto Rico reporting nearly all of these cases.
Those who contracted the virus while traveling abroad continue to account for the majority of infections in the continental United States.
Dr. Lulu Bravo, an esteemed professional working in collaboration with Takeda on vaccine development, specializes in the study of pediatric tropical illnesses at the distinguished University of the Philippines, Manila. She describes this issue as "a significant concern for travelers" and highlights its escalating global implications.